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Warrnambool has officially teamed up with the city of Mariestad in Sweden to tackle climate change and create new employment opportunities.

A Swedish delegation joined Australian experts for a special presentation at Deakin University on April 29.

Maristead has partnered with Nilsson Energy to introduce new technology that stores renewable energy as hydrogen and uses hydrogen to power vehicles and heat buildings.

The city is home to the world’s first solar powered hydrogen refuelling station.

Mariestad Mayor Jonas Abrahamsson said that it was time for cities around the globe to start taking action to address the impact of climate change.

“We have seen a lot of documents about how things should be done, but now is the time to do it,” he said.

“We have made a start, and we are looking for others who can help us with this dream.

“I am looking forward to working with Warrnambool, to learn about what they have done and also to share what we have done.

“It’s easier to make changes in smaller cities like Mariestad or Warrnambool and then scale it up, so this is where we can make a start.”

Nilsson Energy Partner Martina Wettin said that the impact of climate change was being felt significantly in Sweden. The nation’s capital, Stockholm, experienced its hottest summer since records began in 1756.

“Last summer we had days on end with temperatures over 30 degrees, which is unheard of. And also, water shortages. You wouldn’t think that would be the case for us, but in the eastern part of Sweden there is actually a drought,” she said.

Ms Wettin commended Warrnambool on making the commitment to being a carbon neutral city by 2040.

“In Sweden, we have months of almost complete darkness and we can still go off grid and be sustainable. Imagine what you could do in Australia,” she said.